Saturday, July 22, 2017

Australia: Aussie Rules
Football celebrates diversity: This weekend's AFL matches will celebrate
diversity. The two most friendly clubs, the Sidney Swans and St. Kilda meet
each other in what promises to be a hard fought game. St
Kilda, currently ranked ninth, looked
like world-beaters when it smashed Richmond in round 16 but failed a huge test
when Essendon smacked the Saints under the lights of Friday night footy.

Now
they face the rampant Sidney Swans, currently ranked sixth and on a hot streak,
at the Sidney Cricket Grounds, after
having hosted this diversity bowl last year.
St. Kilda has a Swans problem, it would seem, as no matter how good they
are, they can never beat the Swans, not in over five years, and the Swans are
hot right now, having won nine of their last ten games. Sydney stars Lance Franklin,
Josh Kennedy, Luke Parker, Isaac Heeney and Dane Rampe are all in outstanding
form. The Saints have a lot of obstacles to
overcome, if they want to pull out a win.

The Swans have done their part to
recognize their LGBTIQ fans, who have a website endorsed by the
Sydney Swans club, which is called the Rainbow Swans www.rainbowswans.com.au.

According to faithful member of this blog,
Grant B., a rabid Swans fan, their fan merchandise is the same as the normal
fans, but with a rainbow added to it, making a visual impact on television, and
a personal impact on other fans at the stadium.

As usual recent these weekends, there are four other AFL games
today, and another three on Sunday, so lots to enjoy.

Budapest, Hungary: Aquatics
Worlds continues today in Budapest, and so far has provided compelling
action. Men’s Water Polo Group Play
ended yesterday at these FINA Worlds.
The USA, after a shock lost to
Japan, was left on the outside looking in.
From here on out the eight qualifying teams are in sudden death play,
but more on that tomorrow. For the teams
who didn't qualify, there is a kind of consolation playoff, so no championship
excitement, but perhaps some exciting action still awaits those teams. In other action today, men's diving wraps up
today, after some very exciting competition so far. Men's 10m platform diving is the premier
action this afternoon.

The U.K.: Golf's 2017 British
Open Championship continues today on the links in England. This is the 146th Open Championship, and it is
being held through tomorrow at the Royal
Birkdale Golf Club in Southport, England. This is the tenth Open Championship
played at Royal Birkdale, which held its first in 1954. Americans Jordan Spieth and Matt Kuchar
currently lead the field, with Spieth in first place at six under par, and
Kuchar second at four under par. English
golfer Ian Poulter and Brooks Koepka share third place at three under par.

France: The Tour de
France has provided much cycling excitement over the last few weeks, and is
almost at an end. It has been a Tour in
which greats have reached the pinnacle, and then washed out. Top cyclists like Marcel Kittel, who was leading the points competition until his unfortunate accident. Today's next to the last stage is a Time
Trial through the streets of Marseille, as each cyclist races against the
clock, on his own, for the best time possible.

Chris Froome of Sky Team (not, not Delta Airlines), is currently race
leader, and is also somewhat of a time trial specialist. Barring a fall or an equipment breakdown, he
should do well. Anything can happen,
though, and other leaders are nipping at his heels. This afternoon should provide great
excitement for those who tune in. This
year's Tour de France started in Dusseldorf, Kraftwerk's hometown. This week,
we'll end with Kraftwerk.